Medical college is not easy to get into, but qualifying for the MCAT (medical college admission test) can help. MCAT is a huge deal and requires months of consistent hard work. Most successful MCAT takers usually have to appear for the test more than once.
Are you looking for the best MCAT prep courses? You’re at the right place!
One MCAT prep course may not be perfect for every type of learner. Difference courses offer different learning strategies, and you must find the one that suits you the best.
Before picking a course, one must consider a few factors– course materials, flexible learning schedule, price, etc. The best course for you is the one that lets you customize your studies and meet your exam timeline.
In this article, we will discuss the top 12 MCAT courses in the market right now. Without wasting time any further, let’s dive into the details.
Top 12 MCAT Prep Courses: In A Nutshell (2024)
Have a busy schedule and do not have time to go through the entire long article? We’ve got you! Here is a quick list of the top 12 courses.
| Sr. No. | MCAT Prep Course | Best Feature |
| 1. | Kaplan | Best overall MCAT course |
| 2. | Blueprint | Best live online classes |
| 3. | Altius | Best in-person course |
| 4. | Princeton Review | Best intensive course |
| 5. | Magoosh | Best free trial |
| 6. | MCAT Self Prep | Best personalized course |
| 7. | Khan Academy | Most affordable |
| 8. | Gold Standard | Best study material |
| 9. | Varsity Tutors | Best 1:1 tutoring |
| 10. | WizePrep | Best video lessons |
| 11. | Prep101 | Most study material |
| 12. | The Berkeley Review | Online and Offline Solutions |
Let us now look at the courses in detail. We have included each course’s duration, rating, and price to help you choose.
1. Kaplan:
| Rating | 5/5 |
| Price | $1999-$6999 |
Kaplan offers several MCAT prep courses suitable for different needs. You can choose between a live online class, one-on-one, and private tutoring. If you want to study at your own pace, you can choose the On-Demand course with pre-recorded lessons and thousands of practice questions.
Even though the price may seem overwhelming, Kaplan offers interest-free financing for those who need it. This makes it easier for many students to take the course without drilling a hole in their pockets.
Key Highlights:
- Caters to different studying styles.
- Free consultations.
- Money-back guarantee.
2. Blueprint:
| Rating | 4.7/5 |
| Price | Starting from $1999 |
Blueprint’s live online classes and private tutoring provide the opportunity for flexible learning and allow you to study at your own pace. Apart from the live classes and tutoring, you get other perks such as a customized study planner tool, detailed explanations of questions you answered incorrectly, hundreds of on-demand videos, etc.
The double lecturer feature is one of the best parts of the Blueprint MCAT prep course. You learn from not one 99th-percentile teacher during the live online classes but two.
Key Highlights:
- Score increase guarantee.
- Most flexible learning options.
- Over 10,000 practice questions.
- Bite-sized video lessons.
3. Altius:
| Rating | 4.5/5 |
| Price | 1:1 tutoring starting at $3699 |
Altius has been providing industry-leading one-on-one mentoring and course materials to students since 2005. The course is perfect for students seeking personalized attention as they focus on 1:1 teaching. The MCAT is a difficult exam to pass, and some students require private tutoring sessions to ensure they get all their questions answered by an expert.
While registering, students get three options– long, accelerated, and immersion. Depending on what you choose, you get a differently paced course.
Key Highlights:
- 14-day free trial
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- The promise of a 90th-percentile score
- Scholarships for deserving students
4. Princeton Review:
| Rating | 4.6/5 |
| Price | Starts from $2399 |
The detailed curriculum of the Princeton Review MCAT prep course helps students get an increase of 13 points on average. Also, other than improving their scores, Princeton Review helps score in top percentiles. It is ideal for students who want to increase their scores in less time.
Princeton Review is a well-known name in the MCAT prep course market. It offers four options: Self-Paced, Ultimate, MCAT 510+, and MCAT 515+ Summer Immersion. Additionally, there is also a private tutoring option for an additional cost.
Key Highlights:
- Multiple options to choose from.
- Good for text-based learners.
- Good subscription length.
- Detailed explanations of questions.
5. Magoosh:
| Rating | 4/5 |
| Price | $379 |
Magoosh is a great option for students with a lower budget. The prep course options are very affordable, starting at $379. Under this amount, you get eight hours of live classroom experience with MCAT test experts. That is the most you can get on a tight budget.
With an additional cost, you also get yearlong access to a customized study plan, 700+ practice questions, three full-length practice exams, email support from MCAT tutors, around 400 content review videos, and much more. They guarantee a score improvement of at least ten marks.
Key Highlights:
- Free trial with great resources for a week
- Choose from monthly and annual pricing plans
- Value for money
- Suitable for visual learners
6. MCAT Self Prep:
| Rating | 4.1/5 |
| Price | Free |
MCAT Self Prep is a 100% free course with a wide variety of resources and centers their studying around the practice questions developed by the AAMC (people who write the MCAT). This free course includes ten content modules, an MCAT Bootcamp, Weekly study tips, and a Facebook study group where you can meet other students studying for the same exam.
A team of elite, 99th-percentile tutors offers personalized support to each student. You can write your doubts or questions and submit a form, and you will get a personalized response from the CEO.
Key Highlights:
- Focuses on building students’ stamina for the test.
- Paid plans come with a 7-day money-back guarantee.
- Study materials like quizzes and flashcards.
- Relatively more affordable than other courses.
7. Khan Academy:
| Rating | 4.1/5 |
| Price | Free |
Khan Academy is another free course on our list. It offers various free resources for many courses, including the MCAT. Because they provide their students with comprehensive and in-depth study materials, Khan Academy has made its way into our list.
Although the course is free, its contents are high-quality and engaging, something you don’t usually get in free stuff. The lessons are divided into bite-sized videos for easy comprehension. It covers all areas of the MCAT and provides immediate feedback on practice questions.
Key Highlights:
- An affordable and smart way to study.
- Critical analysis and reasoning skills (CARS) practice questions.
- Access to the course material for a lifetime.
8. Gold Standard:
| Rating | 3.9/5 |
| Price | $599-$1499 |
The Gold Standard MCAT has been preparing students for the competitive medical exam for the past 30 years and has a good track record as well. The multimedia program includes MCAT books, apps, videos, and full-length MCAT practice tests. Undoubtedly, The Gold Standard provides more study material than any other course.
You get 20 full-length MCAT practice tests, 10,000+ Q&As, and 9 MCAT books in the course. There are studying options for students who like to study at their own pace and those who like to take live classes. If you have studied the material already and wish to test yourself, you can take as many practice tests as you want at $10 per exam.
Key Highlights:
- Thousands of practice problems.
- 30+ hours of video review lessons.
- Practice tests and questions from distinguished institutions, such as AAMC, Kaplan, Princeton Review, etc.
9. Varsity Tutors:
| Rating | 4.8/5 |
| Price | $50-$95/hr for private tutoring. |
Your search for the best one-on-one private tutoring ends at Varsity Tutors. The company focuses on one goal: to match its students with the best MCAT experts possible. Sure, you can prep all you want using study materials and e-books, but nothing beats personalized tutoring.
If you believe you need individualized attention to prep, you can opt for Varsity Tutors. There is a long list of experts that you can choose from, or you can take a test, and they will match you with the perfect tutor. They also help you work out a study plan.
Key Highlights:
- Best one-on-one tutoring.
- Varying rates depend on the tutors and your requirements.
- Both in-person and online options.
- Great for solving specific topics.
10. WizePrep:
| Rating | 4/5 |
| Price | $112-$299/month |
WizePrep is a trusted name for MCAT prep. The lessons are video-centric, and they give the students get the feel of studying in an actual classroom. It is best for people who are visual and auditory learners rather than those who like to study from texts. WizePrep has a clean user interface with a multifunctional dashboard where you can view your progress.
The program offers three packages of different time lengths– 1-month, 6-month and 12-month. Depending on how much time you have, you can select the plan that suits you best.
Key Highlights:
- Free trial
- 800+ topics
- Over one thousand lesson videos
- 160+ cheat sheets to help you review material quicker
11. Prep101:
| Rating | 4.6/5 |
| Price | $2595 |
Prep101 is commonly compared to the leading MCAT courses of Kaplan and Princeton Review. Their curriculum is based around live online classes, includes Examkrackers study guides, and provides the guidance of experts. With an incredibly intense curriculum, they deliver 130+ hours of classroom time. The industry-expert instructors have a unique approach and great communication skills to deal with every type of student.
One of the best features of Prep101 is that it has several learning modes, from 1:1 sessions to video lessons. Moreover, the amount of study material that comes with the course is certainly for the faint-hearted. You must have the zeal to qualify MCAT to take this course!
Key Highlights:
- 20 full-length exams.
- Focus on CARS.
- Flexible schedules.
- Unlimited free repeat policy.
12. The Berkeley Review:
| Rating | 4.3/5 |
| Price | $1995 ($495 for books) |
The Berkeley Review is one of the best MCAT-focused education websites for medical students. The company was founded and operated by scientists, medical doctors, academics, and passed-out students. Every year, the courses help medical students make a place among the top students in the MCAT exam.
The Berkeley Review offers both online and offline solutions to MCAT students. If you are an independent learner, subscribe to its Home Study program for $495. It includes 10 MCAT books with over 6,000 questions, 20 sectional exams, five practice tests, and many more. Another option is the Full Online Course which costs you $1,995. It includes all the study material included in the Home Study program. Additionally, you will get access to live lectures, one-on-one assistance, interviews, and workshops.
Key Highlights:
- Online and offline learning solutions
- A decent amount of study material
- One-on-one assistance and workshops
Related Read:
Which is The Best MCAT Prep Courses?
You’ll find hundreds of MCAT prep courses online, so it’s important to conduct an effective research method and pick the best one. Weigh the pros and cons of each option before you finalize your decision.
One of the most important factors you must consider is the time you have left for the preparation. You can choose a course with a long subscription plan if you have a year or more. However, a boot camp might be a good option if you have less time left.
We hope our list of the best MCAT prep courses helped you narrow down your options. To drop questions or suggestions, please write them down in the comment section.
Frequently Asked Question
While there is no ideal time to take an MCAT prep course, The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) recommends studying for at least 300 hours or more. However, each student’s learning style and speed are different.
Whether you are appearing for the test for the first time or a third, MCAT prep courses are a great way to prepare. Prep courses help you realize where you lack and find your strong points. Moreover, they are a great way to brush up on old concepts and learn new ones.
Finding the ideal MCAT prep course requires some research. You must consider three important factors– your learning style, the amount of time you have, and your budget.
Princeton Review is cheaper than Kaplan, but both courses are great for MCAT preparation. They have varying features, which you can check out and determine which one you like the best. Kaplan is our choice for the best overall MCAT course.
The MCAT exam can be taken seven times. You can take up to three MCAT exams in a year and two times within a period of two years.
